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(No Model.)

W. C. 8v T. J. KERRIGAN. SANITARY CUSPIDOR.

110,595,318. Patented Deo. 14,1897.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM C. KERRIGAN AND THOMAS J. KERRIGAN, OF NEWv YORK, N. Y.

SANITARY CUSPIDOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,313, dated December 14, 1897. Application filed February 23, 1897- Serial No. 624,651. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern,-

Be it known that we, VILLIAM C. KERRI- GAN and THOMAS J. KERRIGAN, citizens of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sanitary Ouspidors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in sanitary cuspidors for streetcars and the like, and has for its object to provide a simple and effective device whereby the expectorations of a person may be conveyed immediately from the car and not permitted to either stand therein for the contamination of the air or gain access to the floor, so as to render the latter uncleanly or objectionable to passengers occupying the ear; and a further object of our improvement is to provide means whereby the cuspidor when out of use may be removed from sight, so as not to become an object of disgust.

lYith these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafterset forth,and then specifically designated by the' claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective of a portion of the interior of a car, showing our improvements fitted therein; Fig. 2, a vertical section of a seat within the car, illustrating the method of operating our improvement; and Fig. 3, a slight modification of the operating mechanism.

In carrying out our invention as here embodied we provide a slide A, which is so tted to the floor, and preferably within a recess therein, as to move back and forth without interfering with the general use of the car, and upon this slide is secured a funnel-shaped cuspidor B, the lower end of which passes through the slide and, when the latter is distended for use, registers with the hole C, formed through the iioor.

In order that the cuspidor may not soil the skirts of the passengers, a guard-frame D is provided therefor which so surrounds the cuspidor as to ward off contact therewith, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. l. An opening E of sufficient size to permit the free passage of the cuspidor and the guard is cut in the foot-board of the seat. as clearly shown, whereby when the cuspidor is to be used it may be slid from beneath the seat into proper position, but when not desired for use may be again returned beneath the seat out of view. In order that these movements of the cuspidor may be brought about, we provide a crank-rod F, which is held in suitable bearings at the back of the seat and has upon its upper end a crank G for its manipulation, while at its lower end an arm 1I is secured to which a link I is pivoted, the opposite end of said link being pivoted to the slide, thereby putting the movements of said slide under the control of the crank-rod, as will be readily understood.

Now from this description it will be obvious that when a car is fitted with a number of cuspidors made in accordance with our improvement a person may expectorate without annoyance to others or befouling of the car or atmosphere therein by manipulating the crank Gr so as to move the cuspidor outward and cause it to register with the hole C, so that saliva projected into the cuspidor will flow therefrom through this hole to the outside of the car, and after this has been accomplished the cuspidor may be again returned beneath the seat out of sight by the reverse manipulation of the crank, and upon this reverse movement the slides A should be of sufficient length to remain over the hole (l after the cuspidor has passed beneath the seat, so as to close said hole against ingress of air or dust.

For convenience in the return of a series of cuspidors by one operation whereby the conductor or attendant upon the car may aecomplish this result without passing to each cuspidor we provide a cord J which passes over suitable guide-pulleys K, and has its lower end attached to the side, as indicated at L, while its opposite end may be passed to the platform of the car, so that the conductor may, without entering the car, draw all of the cuspidors beneath the seats, and he may likewise accomplish the same result by drawing IOO upon these cords from any point Within the ear. Thus when a car has been vacated by one or more passengers who have previouslyT used the cuspidors and omitted to return them beneath the seats this is quickly accomplished by the conductor without annoyance to the remaining passengers.

It is obvious that in practice our improvement is of great value from a sanitary standpoint as Well as for the convenience it affords both the passengers and attendants upon the car, since the passengers may expectorate without interference with others and without their befouling the car or the air therein.

The cost of iitting cars with our improvement is very small, since the entire mechanism is exceedingly simple and inexpensive and not liable to become disarranged by use.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the cuspidor is forced beneath the seat and returned thereto by means of a rack-bar O, with Which meshes a gear-Wheel P, the latter having attached thereto the rod Q, which passes upward through the seat and terminates in a push-button R. The operation of this modiication is similar to that described in connection With Figs. l and 2.

Having thus fully described this invention, what we claim as new and useful isl. In combination With a car or the like, a slide fitted to move to and fro upon the iioor, a cuspidor secured thereon, the lower end of which registers with a hole through the floor when in one position, and means for bringing about the movements of the slide, as speciiied.

2. In combination, a slide A fitted to move upon the iioor of a car or the like, a cuspidor secured upon said slide its lower end adapted to register with a hole through the car-floor, a guard for protecting said cuspidor, and mechanism for moving the slide to and fro, as specified.

3. The herein-described combination of a slide iitted upon the floor of a car, a cuspidor mounted thereon whereby it may be carried beneath the seat or from under the same, its lower end adapted to register with a hole through the iioor of the car when in position for use, a crank-rod and arm carried by said rod, and a link for connecting said arm with the slide whereby the latter is put under control of the crank-rod, as specified.

4. The herein-described combination of the slide A, a cuspidor tted thereon, the lower end of which passes-through said slide and is adapted to register with a hole in the carloor,a guard for protecting the cuspidor, a crank-rod journaled back of the seat, an arm secured to the lower end thereof, a link connecting said arm and slide, and a cord attached to the slide and passing over suitable guide-pulleys Within easy access of the conductor or other attendant of the car, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto affixed our signatures in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM C. KERRIGAN. [L. s] THOMAS J. KERRIGAN. [1.. s] Witnesses:

S. S.,WILL1AMsoN, R. M. PIERCE. 

